As a cardiovascular specialist, I can explain the differences between arteries and veins quite comprehensively. Arteries and veins are both types of blood vessels, but they serve different functions within the circulatory system. Arteries are responsible for transporting oxygen-rich blood from the heart to the rest of the body. They have thick, muscular walls that can withstand the high pressure created by the pumping action of the heart. This is necessary because arteries are carrying blood under high pressure and speed, which is why they are often referred to as the "highways" of the circulatory system. On the other hand, veins carry oxygen-poor blood back to the heart from various parts of the body. Veins have thinner walls compared to arteries because the blood pressure in veins is much lower. They also contain valves that prevent the backflow of blood, which is particularly important in the extremities, like the legs, where blood must travel against gravity to return to the heart. read more >>

The chief difference between arteries and veins is the job that they do. Arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body, and veins carry oxygen-poor blood back from the body to the heart. Your body also contains other, smaller blood vessels.read more >>